Wade: What’s the matter with you? Ain’t you gonna talk to me? Did it go all right?
Sueleen Gay: Oh, Wade.
Wade: What?
Sueleen Gay: I had to do me a striptease tonight in front of all those men. . .in order to get to sing at the Parthenon with Barbara Jean.
Wade: Oh, shit, Sueleen, I. . .That’s dreadful! That’s terrible, girl! I mean. . .I don’t know how to tell you this, but I been meanin’ to. . .you can’t sing. You may as well face the fact you cannot sing. You ain’t never gon’ be no star. I wish you’d give it up. They gon’ kill ya. They gon’ tear your heart out if you keep on. They gon’ walk on your soul, girl.
Sueleen Gay: What are you talkin’ about?
Wade: You can’t sing. Do you understand that?
Sueleen Gay: Yeah? You wanna make a bet? You wanna come to the Parthenon and watch me sing with Barbara Jean?
Wade: I am leavin’ for Detroit Wednesday.
Sueleen Gay: You just come and watch, Wade.
Wade: I’m leavin’ for Detroit, and if you wanna go you just come on. They gonna kill you in this town.
Sueleen Gay: Well, you come and see.
Wade: They gon’ use you. You know that.
Sueleen Gay: Bye, Wade.
Wade: Dumb bitch. I don’t know why I stick around. She just makes me so goddamn mad I could spit.